A Prelude: From Humble Beginnings
The history of Toscana was rather bland up until the mid-1400s. It’s a place of renaissance, a country of culture and pasta. Men and women walked the streets carefree, crime was at an all-time low, and love was in the air. However, this was all about to change.
Men from the countryside plotted against such a dull life. They wanted what was rightfully theirs, the republic. They watched as the government sat upon their buttocks while the Duchy of Milan took Pisa, a land that, as they viewed it, belonged to the Tuscan government. Even though these lands are gained shortly afterwards, it is still the spark to the first revolution in Europe. The Roman Revolution, a revolution that happened in the year 1456.
After years of planning, these unnamed men took up their pitchforks and torches and walked through the dead of night that fateful day. Their leader, Innocenzo Malaspina ,who also happened to be the leader of the Aristocrats for Violence Party (Military Party), promised them great health and glory if they were willing to risk their lives to follow him. That fateful night was the First Glorious Revolution in Europe; even though the British would attempt to, and succeed in, stealing the name a few hundred years later.
Malaspina’s reign, however, would only last for eight years. His first act in office was to assault Urbino and annex them. The ambitious Tuscan army occupied the capital in less than a year, forcing their surrender. Hymns were sung, great poems were written, etc. However, the long-time Tuscan ally, Austria, would be Malaspina’s downfall.
A few years following this great victory, the Venetians attempted to take Mantua by force. This, of course, was after many years of trying to persuade the country to join them peacefully. Austria did not take kindly to this act, them being the Italian lovers that they are. They joined the war on Mantua’s side. Shortly after that, Bohemia joined the war on the Venetian side, and a couple of insignificant countries did the same, looking for a quick snack. Malaspina, being the kind man that he was, joined the war on the Austrian side, and the first Great War in Europe ensued.
However, all the documents recounting said war were burned by Malaspina because it was a complete and utter failure. Both sides eventually came to a standstill and the Tuscans were eventually forced to sign a white peace. Venice annexed Mantua and all of Europe wept for its damsel in distress. Shortly thereafter, Malaspina was forced to leave office and the reign of the great conqueror, Anotnio Nasini, was installed to the head of the office.
Nasini’s reign was immediately marked by an insult from none other than the Pope himself. The Pope declared that Nasini was unfit for the office, and that the Tuscan nation was a failure. Nasini did not take kindly to such accusations, and shortly after, declared himself the Pope, and Tuscany the true Papal States. Needless to say, war did happen, and Nasini was the first successful military leader of Tuscany. The war lasted three years, but he finally managed to occupy not only the Papal States (which shall from here on be known as the Anti-Pope), but also defend against Genoa and Naples. He took Romagna as his trophy, but the Anti-Pope was allowed to stay in Roma.
The next 80 years saw the conquest of most of Mid-Italy, and saw many different Princes come to power. The most important leader being Pietro Leopolda Bizzelli, whose reign lasted forty years, who managed to quell the militaristic nature of the Tuscans. His last years were known as the end of the Aristocrats for Violence, and after his death, the crown was given to the Merchant Party for Love and Respect (Diplomacy Party). The next few years, the three main parties in Tuscany vied for power in the vacuum that ensued the fall of the AFV. By 1548 Tuscany’s holdings had been increased fourfold:
Strange Happenings throughout the World
France has been split apart, and now Aragon and Burgundy are vying for control.
Russia has fallen to the Khanates.
There is a Dynastic civil war in China.
Vijayanagar has united India.
